Three more applications for neon-sign grants in Tulsa were approved along the Route 66 corridor, along with their designs.
The ones approved were:
- Cities Service, West 17th and Southwest Boulevard
- Flo’s Burger Diner, 2604 E. 11th St.
- Renaissance Brewing Company, 1147 S. Lewis Ave.
Dennis Whitaker, a planner for the Indian Nations Council of Governments, emailed the plans for the newly approved neon designs.
The first is the Cities Service station. This was a Route 66 gas station, built in 1940. This is a nighttime artist’s rendering of the new neon:
Next is the Flo’s Burger Diner sign. According to the blueprints, it will be a 10-by-4-foot sign, not counting the two snowflake accents. It will have white and red neon.
Last is the Renaissance Brewing sign. The 12-by-2-foot sign will feature white, green, blue and orange neon.
Previously approved were signs by Billy Ray’s Catfish and BBQ, which received a 50% grant of $2,615 to restore its original sign; and Tally’s Good Food Cafe, which received a maximum $10,000 grant for a new neon project that will cost $25,749.
Still awaiting approval are these applicants:
- Bobby O’s Slices & Pies, 1502 E. 11th St.
- Buck Atom’s Cosmic Curios on 66, 1347 E. 11th St.
- Interparts of Tulsa, 3615 E. 11th St.
- U.S. Studio 66, 5202 E. 11th St.
On top of that, the city is planning a neon-sign park on the south side of the historic 11th Street Bridge. It will consist of re-created signs from long-defunct businesses.
Plus preservationists are working to add downtown to the Route 66 overlay area so more sign projects become eligible.
(Images courtesy of Dennis Whitaker)
The Cities Service building is owned and houses Studio 45 architecture firm. It should have been listed similar to the other business in the article.